West Manheim Township is participating in the York County Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan (CBPRP) along with approximately 50 other municipalities. The Township joined the York County Stormwater Consortium to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup, at a cost of $56,000 per year. This regional effort comes at a much lower cost to the Township than if we were to “go it alone.” In an effort to cover the annual cost of participation in the county plan, the stormwater assessment fee was implemented. The West Manheim Township Board of Supervisors has approved Ordinance # 2017-03 and amended by Ordinance #2019-05, Stormwater Assessment Fee. The Township will collect an annual stormwater assessment fee from each property owner within the Township boundaries. The assessment fee will be used towards MS4 requirements such as operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, improvements and for all other expenses related to the MS4/stormwater mandates. An Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) shall be the unit of measurement to calculate the fee to be imposed by the Ordinance. One ERU shall be defined as 4,500 square feet of impervious lot coverage. Agricultural parcels and single family residences will be calculated at one ERU. Parcels with more impervious area such as nonresidential or commercial parcels will be charged based on their existing impervious coverage. An invoice from the Township will be mailed to each property owner at the beginning of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do I have to pay for this stormwater assessment?
- The West Manheim Township Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance# 2017-03 and amended by Ordinance #2019-05, Stormwater Assessment to be used towards operation, maintenance, and all other expenses related to stormwater mandates. The stormwater assessment ordinance collects an annual stormwater assessment fee from each property owner within the township’s boundaries.
- It is necessary to reduce the pollutants in the water- Nitrogen, Phosphorus and sediment. Regulations required from the federal government (EPA)- Clean Water Act, pushed down to the state governments (PA DEP), pushed down to the counties, pushed down to the local municipalities. It’s about water quality in the bay, the Commonwealth’s streams, creeks, and subsurface water tables. Everyone benefits from improved water quality.
- How do I or my property benefit from reduction in pollutants?
- Everyone benefits from improved water quality. The waters of the Commonwealth drain to creeks, rivers, lakes and ponds. These waters drain to the Susquehanna Rover, Codorus Creek, etc. The four main watersheds in York County replenish Lake Redmond and Lake William which supply public water sources. They also replenish Sheppard Myers and Long Arm reservoirs located in West Manheim Township. Whether you have a well that is pulling water from subsurface water tables, enjoy fishing or outdoor water activities, or are on public water, you and your property benefit from the reduction of pollutants.
- Who decides the amount of the pollutant reduction?
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection sets the reduction amount of the pollutants that need to be met.
- What is West Manheim Township doing to do their part to comply and reduce the pollutants?
- West Manheim is part of York County’s Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan (CBPRP) to reduce the pollutants and meet the necessary reduction limits. The York County CBPRP is a collective effort from approximately 50 municipalities to reduce the pollutants. The CBPRP can be read on the York County Planning Commission’s website here- CBPRP Plan link.
- To see West Manheim’s Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for the Implementation of the York County Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan click on the download button for 2017-01 Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan- Newly Adopted Ordinances.
- Why did West Manheim Township decide to participate in the York County CBPRP?
- After investigation, West Manheim understood that it was much more cost effective to be part of the collective county effort than to try and reduce pollutants exclusively on its own. If West Manheim tried to reduce the pollutants on its own, the cost would hundreds of thousands of dollars annually because West Manheim would not receive any credit for projects that are completed under the collective county effort.
- Do all properties in West Manheim Township pay the assessment?
- Every parcel is assessed. Some municipalities like Conewago Township, Adams County, are assessing approximately $80 annually to their residents. West Manheim is annually assessing residential and agricultural properties at one (1) equivalent residential unit (ERU)= $13.66. Other property classifications will be assessed by the amount of impervious coverage.